MTB tyre choice for the wetter months
Discussion
I currently have a Specialized Hardrock Pro thats on the tyres it came with (Specialized Fast Track) which is an ok tyre for summer months. I did have my doubts about this tyre but after 3 days in Grizedale where it was a little bit damp this tyre was out of its depth on the red routes and a bit slippery.
I do a fair bit of trails and bridleway so something that can cope with mud and slippery rocks is needed.
So far my short list comprises of:
Panaracer Fire XC Pro
Maxxis Minion
Bontrager Mud X
Recommendations or experiences with any of these?
I do a fair bit of trails and bridleway so something that can cope with mud and slippery rocks is needed.
So far my short list comprises of:
Panaracer Fire XC Pro
Maxxis Minion
Bontrager Mud X
Recommendations or experiences with any of these?
I use Panaracer Fire XC pros as my offroad tyre. I haven't tried them through the winter yet as I only bought them back in the spring but they seem to be a pretty capable tyre. I've been out in wet and muddy conditions a few times and never felt uneasy. I've never tried them on wet rocks though so can't comment on that. I bought them after scouring the internet for tyre reviews - these tyres seemed to be one of the better thought of options available.
Almost everyone i know uses the same tyre all through the year including myself. We hardly ever get good dry packed surfaces. My tyres have worked brilliantly over everything.
I use WTB raijin race, Panaracer fire xc pros are popular and work well in all conditions as do nobby nics, medusas.
Look for a good deal and go from there.
I use WTB raijin race, Panaracer fire xc pros are popular and work well in all conditions as do nobby nics, medusas.
Look for a good deal and go from there.
Gooby said:
Strange because the two sets of tyres I have taken off the bike and thrown away are Nobby Nics (expensive, delicate, and no grip in the corners or wet or gravel) and Panaracer XC Fire Pro's (too hard a compound to fell off rocks and larger stoney paths. Lethal for the road...)
Bummer, what have you replaced them with?It's a very personal choice is tyres and it also depends on where you're riding, a South Downs winter tyre will be no good for South Pennines and vice versa. I used to run XC Pros and in general they were a good tyre but not for winter or wet Pennine rock. Currently have Nobby Nics and they are very grippy in all but the worst mud, good for wet rock. However, I only run them because I can get them cheap from my LBS, they're expensive and soft so don't last long.
Kenda Blue Groove and Nevegals again are good all rounders but struggle in winter mud. I've had some good Bontys, can't remember the name but have a square block tread, that were decent winter tyres, much better than the draggy but similar tread pattern Cinders. For the worst of the winter mud you can switch to Trailrakers or I have some slightly less aggressive Continentals - again can't remember the name. These tyres tend to be scary on rock and road though as they're very narrow with tall tread.
I do also run different tyres in the summer, I have some very lightly treaded tyres on one bike at the minute, perfect for drier trails and rock
Kenda Blue Groove and Nevegals again are good all rounders but struggle in winter mud. I've had some good Bontys, can't remember the name but have a square block tread, that were decent winter tyres, much better than the draggy but similar tread pattern Cinders. For the worst of the winter mud you can switch to Trailrakers or I have some slightly less aggressive Continentals - again can't remember the name. These tyres tend to be scary on rock and road though as they're very narrow with tall tread.
I do also run different tyres in the summer, I have some very lightly treaded tyres on one bike at the minute, perfect for drier trails and rock
curlie467 said:
Gooby said:
Strange because the two sets of tyres I have taken off the bike and thrown away are Nobby Nics (expensive, delicate, and no grip in the corners or wet or gravel) and Panaracer XC Fire Pro's (too hard a compound to fell off rocks and larger stoney paths. Lethal for the road...)
Bummer, what have you replaced them with?I ride on a huge variety of surfaces. From trail centers to sandy beach, rock gardens, gravel to woodland singletrack, chalky downs, open moors, MUD!, fire road and occasionally tarmac. I ask a lot of my tyres
I love my Nobby Nics! They were a grip revelation when I put them on, especially through steep mixed terrain woods - leaves, dirt, mud, roots, rocks
Like I said above though, tyres are a personal choice. I have a mate who rides everywhere on semi-slicks, that said he's always last to the bottom of the hill, avoids gravel like the plague and squeals like a girl. Hence we call him Penelope
Like I said above though, tyres are a personal choice. I have a mate who rides everywhere on semi-slicks, that said he's always last to the bottom of the hill, avoids gravel like the plague and squeals like a girl. Hence we call him Penelope
Ironballs said:
I love my Nobby Nics! They were a grip revelation when I put them on, especially through steep mixed terrain woods - leaves, dirt, mud, roots, rocks
Like I said above though, tyres are a personal choice. I have a mate who rides everywhere on semi-slicks, that said he's always last to the bottom of the hill, avoids gravel like the plague and squeals like a girl. Hence we call him Penelope
Good price on Nobby Nics over here:-Like I said above though, tyres are a personal choice. I have a mate who rides everywhere on semi-slicks, that said he's always last to the bottom of the hill, avoids gravel like the plague and squeals like a girl. Hence we call him Penelope
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TYSCNICEVO/sch...
Garett said:
Thanks for all the input chaps, the Panaracers seen to be faves at the moment.
Maxxis have such a large array of tyres I find it a bit mind boggling but the the Minion seems to be the one of choice for the wetter months.
Highrollers are great for dry to intermediate conditions, you can't really go far wrong with the HR.Maxxis have such a large array of tyres I find it a bit mind boggling but the the Minion seems to be the one of choice for the wetter months.
The Medusa is an excellent wet tyre but draggy when dry!
Fire XCs really have been superseeded by newer tyres, they're really not great.
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